Pictures of Indians getting handcuffed, humiliated while being deported from U.S. saddening: Congress

US deports Indian migrants amid tightening immigration laws, sparking diplomatic tensions between the two countries.

The Congress on Wednesday (February 5, 2025) expressed sadness over "pictures of Indians getting handcuffed and humiliated" while being deported from the U.S. and recalled that America had to express regret over the treatment meted out to India diplomat Devyani Khobragade in 2013 after the then UPA government retaliated sharply.

A military transport aircraft of the U.S. is bringing a group of Indian migrants, in the first such deportation to India as part of the big crackdown on illegal immigrants by President Donald Trump in his second term at the White House.

Without directly commenting on the deportation flight carrying the Indians, a spokesperson at the U.S. embassy in New Delhi said on Tuesday that Washington is tightening immigration laws and removing illegal migrants.

Congress' media and publicity department head Pawan Khera said, "Looking at the pictures of Indians getting handcuffed and humiliated while being deported from the U.S. saddens me as an Indian."

"I remember in December of 2013, an Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade was handcuffed and strip searched in America. Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh registered a strong protest with U.S. Ambassador Nancy Powell," Mr. Khera said in a post on X.

"The UPA government retaliated sharply. Leaders like Ms. Meira Kumar, Sushil Kumar Shinde & Rahul Gandhi refused to meet the U.S. Congressional delegation [George Holding, Pete Olson, David Schweikert, Rob Woodalland Madeleine Bordallo] that was visiting India at that time," he recalled.

Mr. Khera said then PM Manmohan Singh termed the U.S. action 'deplorable'.